Madrid, Spain | AFP | Julen Lopetegui’s brief and inglorious reign as Real Madrid coach lasted just 139 days after the club confirmed he had been sacked on Monday. Lopetegui was dismissed following a meeting of the board of directors, who concluded there had been a “great disproportion between the …
Read More »Suarez hits hat-trick as Barcelona blow away Madrid
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Barcelona ran riot in the Clasico on Sunday as Luis Suarez scored the hat-trick that will surely spell the end of Julen Lopetegui’s time as Real Madrid coach. Barcelona were 5-1 winners, dominant at Camp Nou for all-but a 15-minute period after half-time when the …
Read More »Pressure mounts on Lopetegui as Madrid beaten by Levante
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Real Madrid failed to ease the pressure on coach Julen Lopetegui and instead set the record for the longest goal-drought in the club’s history during a surprise 2-1 defeat by Levante on Saturday. Madrid have now gone five games without a victory and by the …
Read More »Hazard can be world’s best if he stays at Chelsea – Sarri
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Eden Hazard can still become the best footballer in the world even if he stays at Chelsea, Blues manager Maurizio Sarri said Friday. Hazard has made no secret either of his desire to win the Ballon d’Or, the annual prize for the best player …
Read More »Messi strike helps 10-man Barca earn draw as Ronaldo goes off injured
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Lionel Messi weaved his magic to keep 10-man Barcelona’s unbeaten season alive as a 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou on Sunday left Real Madrid sweating over an injury to Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo was forced off at half-time after appearing to hurt his ankle and …
Read More »Last-gasp Ronaldo penalty takes Real into semis
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Cristiano Ronaldo scored a 97th-minute penalty to take Real Madrid through to the semi-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday, denying Juventus after a remarkable comeback by the Italian side. Ronaldo smashed home the decisive spot-kick at the death, after a furious Gianluigi Buffon …
Read More »Ronaldo double powers Real to win over Juventus
Turin, Italy | AFP | Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in 10 successive Champions League games as he struck twice for holders Real Madrid in a 3-0 win at Juventus in Tuesday’s quarter-final first leg. Ronaldo grabbed the opening goal in Turin after just three minutes and …
Read More »Ronaldo does it again as Real Madrid dump PSG out of Europe
Paris, France | AFP | Cristiano Ronaldo and Casemiro got the goals for Real Madrid as the holders won 2-1 away to a Paris Saint-Germain side missing Neymar to secure their place in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday. Ronaldo had scored twice — including his 100th goal for Real …
Read More »Neymar suffers fractured metatarsal, serious doubt to face Real
Paris, France | AFP | Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar suffered a sprained ankle and a fractured metatarsal when he was stretchered off in Sunday’s win over Marseille, the Ligue 1 leaders announced on Monday. The Brazilian, who signed for PSG in a world-record move from Barcelona last year, is now …
Read More »Demands of coaching Real Madrid are ‘exhausting’ – Zidane
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Zinedine Zidane has admitted that coaching Real Madrid is draining as he prepares his side for their return to La Liga action on the back of the Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain. “It is exhausting, for sure, even more so at Real Madrid,” the …
Read More »